Newsroom

ROSEMONT, Ill. – July 26, 2013 - Michelle Gascoigne earned her fourth career victory tonight as the Bandits took game three of the series 7-1, extending their win streak to eight games and improving to 24-6.

Comets pitcher Sarah Plourde got into a jam early, walking three consecutive Bandits to load the bases in the bottom of the first inning. Tammy Williams was walked with the bases still loaded, which scored Megan Wiggins. Nikki Nemitz was also walked, sending Amber Patton home. Eri Yamada then reached on a Comets fielding error, scoring Alisa Goler and giving the Bandits a 3-0 edge.

After a brief rain delay play resumed in the bottom of the first with the bases loaded and two outs. The Bandits failed to convert any more runs, leaving three runners stranded.

The Bandits added another run to their lead in the bottom of the second when Wiggins hit a homerun, a solo shot that cleared the right field bleachers, to make the score 4-0. Wiggins now leads the NPF in homeruns this season with seven.

The Comets threatened in the third inning when they were able to string together three hits and load the bases. But Gascoigne prevailed, recording a strikeout to end the inning and keep the Comets off the scoreboard.

The Bandits tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Wiggins drew a walk and was brought home by William’s RBI single to make the score 5-0 going into the fifth inning.

The Bandits offense earned two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Brittany Cervantes started the inning out with a solo homerun, her third of the season. The second run of the inning started with Yamada drawing a walk before Danielle Zymkowitz and Patton both singled to load the bases. Goler was then walked, which sent Yamada home, giving the Bandits a 7-0 lead.

The Comets earned their first run of the game in the top of the sixth when Angeline Quiocho smacked a solo homerun to deep center field. The score was 7-1 going into the bottom of the inning.

The Comets tried to rally one more time during the seventh when two runners were walked. Bianca Mejia then stepped up to bat and hit what looked like a homerun to left field, but Yamada made the play on the warning track to end the game and preserve the Bandits victory.

Plourde remains winless this season as her record drops to 0-3 after tonight’s game.

The Bandits and Comets return to Rosemont tomorrow for the final game of the series. First pitch is set for 7:35 pm.

Since 2005, the Chicago Bandits have been members of National Pro Fastpitch. Located in the Chicagoland area, the Bandits provide an opportunity for female fastpitch players to further their careers at a professional level. The roster has included such names as Jennie Finch, Stacy May and Monica Abbott. The two-time NPF Champions play at The Ballpark at Rosemont, the only stadium in the country built for a women’s professional team.

About National Pro Fastpitch

National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball and has been since 2002.